The silky smooth 2009 Audi R8 V10 Coupe

THIS 2009 Audi R8 V10 Coupe is the supercar that we will be looking at for this week's blog.

As you may have already guessed from the title, this particular model features the 5.2-litre 10-cylinder engine derived from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.

Instead of producing the full 552 horsepower that the Gallardo has, it is de-tuned in the R8 to produce 391kW (525 horsepower) at 8000rpm.

This is a loss of about 5% of the power, so it doesn't make much of a difference. The engine will also produce 530 Nm of torque (391 lb-ft of torque) at 6500rpm.

Connected to this marvellous sounding engine is a six-speed R-Tronic automated-manual transmission, which then

Jesse See.

sends the power to all four wheels via Audi's famous Quattro all-wheel drive system.

Behind the steering wheel you will find shifting paddles to manual change gears, and it will do so in less than one tenth of a second.

This particular model also has a kerb weight of 1620 kilograms.

This entitles the R8 V10 to launch from 0-100 kilometres per hour in under 3.9 seconds, and it only takes another 8.1 seconds to reach 200 kilometres per hour. After that, it won't stop accelerating until it reaches its top speed of 316 kilometres per hour (196 miles per hour).

You already know that the R8 V10 has the engine from a Lamborghini Gallardo, but did you know that it shares more than just the engine with its counterpart? It actually starts life as a Lamborghini Gallardo, and is then handed over to the sensible Germans at Audi to completely change the car.

Once the car leaves the factory at Audi, the only resemblance to Lamborghini is the chassis and the engine, and the result is a more practical daily-driver with softer suspension and better fuel economy.

Some other features that this R8 is equipped with includes a speed-sensitive electronic rear spoiler, full LED headlights (a world-first at the time of launch), double-wishbone front and rear suspension, four-wheel ABS as well as traction and stability control, daytime running LEDs, electronic brake force distribution, a post-collision safety system, 19-inch 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, a premium leather interior, Bang & Olufsen speakers and much more.

You can currently buy a 2009 Audi R8 V10 Coupe for about $230,000 AUD.

Jesse See is a teenage car enthusiast. His blogs and website can be found atwww.jessesee.com